My South Park Character

Busy busy busy

Been a little while since my last post but I've not been idle! My Anatomy & Physiology, Swedish massage and Thermal stone courses have almost ended so I've been frantically finishing any outstanding work for those. So I'm finally qualified and hope to start earning some money soonish!

I fell so far behind on my latest OU module that some serious catching up this week has left me exhausted.

As we are off to California in a few weeks, we have been getting up at the crack of dawn to go running along the seafront in a bid to lose those pounds!

Anna, Byron and Ella came to stay for a week, bringing the lovely weather with them as usual, so much cooking, cleaning and hostessing.

Last weekend we sped up to Manchester for Cait's first communion, we spent a couple of nights with Jo's family and then spent the day with Ann, Todd their kids, family and friends on the Sunday. I think that was my first full catholic mass. It was lovely to see everyone.

The strange folk of Tintagel

Last weekend we headed down to Bude for a long weekend. Kayaks (yes kayaks not surfboards)on the car we arrived at Elements a lovely surf boutique hotel on the coast road between Bude and Widemouth bay. I liked the idea of settling into our cosy room, but Jo thought we should check out the facilities which included a gym and sauna. The exercise over and a quick shower, we were in the bar waiting for dinner, that's more like it. The food was very good and judging by the full tables of locals this place is getting a good reputation. Saturday we caught up with a few people from Martlet to watch a pro surf kayak competition.

We popped down to Tintagel for a spin round the town and up to the castle.

Later we checked into the northshore backpackers, I'm fast growing out of dormitory accommodation but this was were many Martlet people were staying. We popped down to the pub for a pint which turned into two, then a curry in town before declaring ourselves too tired to socialise any more and headed back with the paper to our bunk beds.

Sunday we took part in a days surf kayak training at Crooklets and Summerleaze beaches. It was great getting back in our boats after such an absence, we vowed to paddle much more often in Brighton. The end of the day saw us head back to Elements for the Sunday night, that's more like it! Oh how we ached! Another lovely meal and a good nights rest.

Snowtime at St Nicks

Snowy Brighton!

Birthday & Tate Modern

So it's my birthday and I'll go to Due South if I want to.....even though it's cooking up a storm out there! Two very dishevelled heads of hair turn up to the lovely beach restaurant for some great nosh. We popped into The Heist for champers beforehand,it was surprisingly civilised in there for a West Street establishment, it was only 7 o'clock though.

This Saturday we caught up with my sister, brother and his wife at the Tate modern, we had some nice lunch in the cafe there and then looked around at some of the exhibits including Doris Salcedo's Shibboleth, perhaps better known as 'the crack' in the turbine hall.

We walked over the millennium bridge which was being filmed by a low flying helicopter. Later we met Chris, Paul and Damien at The Commercial. It was lovely to catch up with them as it's been too long since we saw them last.

Val Thorens

We felt very old on our arrival in Val Thorens this year. Lots of 'young people' partying particuarly those in the apartment above us!

Despite the sleepless nights we had a wonderful time, the fab weather and abundance of snow made for lovely conditions.

Anna & Gary cooked us yummy food and were charming company. Byron and Ella skied like champions.

A great week.

The Crusade against Squirrel Nutkin

My suspicion that a squirrel (or squirrels?!) have set up home in our loft are unfortunately spot on. I went into the loft this weekend to retrieve our snowboard gear, only to discover the little rodent had been chewing on my board bag as well as the supporting roof joists!
It’s posing a bit of a problem to know what to do to get rid of my bushy tailed acquaintance, but go it must. Tomorrow I will start building barricades.

mishaps

Anyone who's been close to the beach in recent weeks wont have missed the tons of timber washed ashore because of the sunkun cargo vessel the Ice Prince. Different shelters & 'sculptures' have popped up along the shoreline.

This morning when we went out for our morning run a lorry had just overturned at the top of North Road. I wasn't sure if the driver had taken the corner too fast or it was the high winds. It narrowly missed the inland revenue building, what a shame.

Happy Birthday Jo

Friday was Jo's birthday, so in the evening we took a brief holiday from the great January detox and went out for dinner at Drakes. We popped into the lovely bar at hotel du vin first for an aperitif. It was so nice to get dressed up (my idea of dressing up might not be everyone's!) and go to places where you are pampered. We really enjoyed the evening, the food at Drakes was lovely but not as good as I'd remembered. By nine o'clock though I was yawning and needed my bed, its all this detoxing you see it makes you soft. I think Jo thought we'd be dancing the night away in some groovy club....

The great January detox...but after being a Ginger Piggy

The excesses of Christmas and New Year (or indeed longer than this) often leave us feeling a bit sluggish. So in January we like to detox a bit, no alcohol, fresh and raw food, herbal teas and plenty of water in a bid to save our livers or at least give them a holiday. Perhaps shed a few pounds and look forward to the new year ahead with vigor.

But before all this we popped down to The Ginger Pig, a pub in Hove run by the same people who gave us The Gingerman in Norfolk Square and Drakes http://www.gingermanrestaurants.com/. You can't book a table to eat at the Ginger Pig so you have to turn up before the six thirty sitting and join the stampede. The food is good and the service friendly but not in your face. Brighton & Hove have been very slow to catch on to the gastro pub scene. When we moved here from London in 2004 we were aficionado's of Gastro Pubs and were horror-struck to discover they didn't really exist in Brighton. This is changing and with the smoking ban now in place pubs are diversifying their food menus. We live near to the Sussex Yeomen which serves fabulous food (their chefs are also at work in the nearby Eddy).

Chill Factor e

This Christmas we spent in Manchester with Jo's family. As we arrived a few days before the big day we booked ourselves into the new indoor ski slope near old trafford. We had a great time £22 gives you an hour and a half. We even managed not to fall off the poma lift! Of course its never like being on the mountains but it was good to practise a few turns and get the feel of it all again. Can't wait for Val Thorens in Feb.

The madness of Londinium

Yesterday we drove into London to do some Christmas shopping. Driving in London is only for the insane. Shopping in Oxford Street in December is pure foolishness. Traffic is slow, parking is expensive, public transport is costly, slow and crowded. For a girl born and bred in our capital city a few years out to grass in Brighton have made me.... well a bit soft really.

In the evening we stayed next door to Amy Winehouse's husband Blake (he is currently being detained at her majesty's pleasure for perverting the course of justice in Pentonville prison) at Jason & Sammy's. We headed down to Kings Cross on a mini pub crawl, bars which were once no go zones have been given gastro makeovers. It's nice to see areas improve...if only we had bought a little property there 10 years ago, you'd be laughing.

Santa Dash

Saturday, it rained and rained the wind howled and it was freezing. Great and we have to do a 5k run along Brighton Seafront all in aid of the wonderful Rocking Horse appeal.

Watching people including myself having to hop around trying to get their suits on was amusing, but waiting at the start when the rain started to soak into the suit and make them heavier and heavier was not fun. It was a shame the weather was so awful, perhaps they should do an Easter Bunny dash....at least the weather might be a bit kinder.

Anyone for Avacado Houmous Crostini?

So Thursday sees us head off in the rain to The Montpelier and Clifton Hill Associations Christmas party. At Montpelier Hall we were greeted by a chap in white coat and fez. Our coats were whisked away and we helped ourselves to a glass of wine. We entered the drawing room which was a buzz with ...well Clifton Hill types, all very posh, we stood out a mile and were easily the youngest by about 30 years. We were served up smoked salmon, Russian stuffed eggs etc by gentlemen who were very nice but couldn't speak any English, they did manage to get across that the fez's played havoc with their hair.

Come on the Albion

Tuesday evening saw us head off to the Withdean stadium to see our local football team Brighton & Hove Albion play Walsall. Jo had some VIP tickets which entitled us to some nosh in a porta-cabin and couple of glasses of wine and to see the match. Withdean is basic to say the least, I look forward to the team having a decent stadium soon. Come on you Lewis residents let them have Falmer!

Well it was a chilly night but we enjoyed the game, its good to take your mind off everything sometimes. A 1-1 draw was a little disapointing as the Brighton side dominated the match but I have to admit Walsall's goal was a cracker.

Halloween

Surfs Up

Last Friday and we headed off to one of our favorite places North Devon for the week. We booked an apartment overlooking Putsborough beach, how's this for a view

Nice, the apartment block also has its own pool, good for stretching those old muscles.

Jo is preparing for an interview and I needed to write my final assignment for the finance module of my OU course, so it wasn't all fun and games.

But we did manage to catch some lovely waves and walk into Wooly for a swift pint at the Red Barn on a number of occasions.

Oh what a lovely house